Building-block.



E. I. PROPPER.

BUILDING BLOCK.

APPLICATION'FILED SEPT.2, 1915.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

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BUILDING BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-2 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

EMANUEL ISIKA PROPPER, OF BIENNE, SWITZERLAND.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

Application filed September 2, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EMANUEL IsIKA PROPPER, architect, citizen of Switzerland, residing at Bienne, Canton of Berne, in the Confederation of Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to building blocks or stones.

I am aware that heretofore building blocks have been constructed in cross shaped as well as rectangular configuration and also that in the rectangular building blocks various forms of projections have been employed to secure or to assist in securing together the front and rear faces of the walls or other similar structures formed by the use of such blocks. In no instance, however, so far as I am; aware has a cross shaped building block been provided with a T shaped projection extending centrally from the rear face thereof in order that such blocks may be placed together in building walls by directly connecting the T shaped projections or uniting them through an independent bond member, and in either case to provide a passage or flue of even and uniform surface within the walls or other structures thus formed in order that these fines or spaces may be practically employed for conveying heat, gases, smoke, or for ventilating purposes as may be desired.

The bonds between the stones on the front face may be strengthened by employing dowels made of mortar and for these it is necessary to provide holes in the manufactured blocks.

In the accompanying drawing one example of a wall made with hooked stones or blocks is shown.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 show a back, a sideview and a view in perspective of one of my improved building stones. Figs. 4, 5 and 6, illustrate one way of constructing a wall and Figs. 7 to 10, illustrate another way of erecting a wall by use of my improved building blocks.

My building block or stone (Figs. 1-3), is composed of a cross-shaped front-part K, and of a hook-like and T shaped back part H projecting vertically from its backside. Both parts may have the same thickness. The arms of the front part K are of the same length. If the greatest length and height of the stone are made four times a,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 48,584.

an arbitrary dimension, the arms will be twice a in Width and once a in length as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The width of the hook-like part H may also be a, and also the width of the leg of the T shaped member or web may be equal to the width of the cross-piece, as is to be seen from Figs. 2 and 3.

Holes m are provided in the arms of the stone for receiving dowels of mortar or other material.

These blocks or stones may be employed in two manners: They may be set in two vertical layers one behind the other and hooked together directly by means of their hook-like parts with the adjoining stones connected to each other by their cross-arms, as is shown in Figs. 4: to 6. There is then an intimate bond between the blocks and continuous hollows it running from top to bottom of the wall so formed. Or the blocks may be set in two vertical layers with backside to backside and the joining of the layers obtained by the use of special bond-blocks B shaped like a'double T and adapted to interlock firmly with the hooklike parts. In this case the continuous hollows will have twice the cross-section of the hollows of the first construction, the I lateral bond being created likewise by the oining cross-arms (see Figs. 4., 7 and 8). Obviously in the second construction the bond blocks employed make the thickness of the walls materially greater.

Hollow walls built up from these stones have the following advantages: Regarding economy these walls may be built quickly and with few materials and the hollows k may be utilized for placing therein any kind of conduits. Regarding hygienics these walls will dry rapidly and may be employed as flues for hot air heating, and the hot air will not enter the dwelling rooms, because it simply circulates in the said fines and is led off therefrom by other channels. W'ith regard to solidity these walls will offer the greatest possible strength, as compared with common artificial building stones. IVith such walls the joists may rest on the inner of the two Walls which are joined together by the hook-like parts or by the bond-blocks.

I claim as my invention:

1. A building block comprising a crossshaped face member, with the width of each arm of the cross piece approximately twice its length, a web member extending at right angles from the central portion of the back of the cross-shaped face member, and a cross piece integral with and extending laterally at right angles from opposite ends of the web member, the thickness of the cross piece being approximately the same as the thickness of the web member.

2. A building block comprising a crossshaped face member, with the width of each arm of the cross piece approximately twice its length, a web member extending at right angles from the central portion of the back of the cross-shaped face member, and a cross piece integral with and extending laterally at right angles from opposite ends of the web member, the thickness of the cross piece being approximately the same as the thick ness of the web member and the length of the web member being appreciably less than the length of an arm of the cross-shaped face member, while the length of the cross piece is materially greater than the length of an arm of the crossshaped face member and the web and cross piece being of the same width.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMANUEL ISIKA PROPPER. lVitnesses:

THEODORE IMER, W. IMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatencs. Washington, D, G. 

